Heat exchanger tube support



Oct. 17, 1939. G. w. McCULLOUGH HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SUPPORT Filed July 1, 1937 INVENTOR. GERALD W. Mc CULLOUGH BY 3%,W-q

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SUPPORT Gerald W. McCullough, Bartlesville, Okla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application July 1, 1937, Serial No. 151,495

1 Claim.

This invention relates to tube supports for heat exchangers.

Prior to the present invention heat exchanger sections consisted of banks of tubes terminating at each end in section headers with side rails connecting the section headers to form a rigid section. In most cases no support was given the tubes between the headers so that under mechanical stresses and varying temperatures the tubes buckled and bent coming into contact with one another and where no contact occurred, accumulated scale on the tubes clogged the confined spaces between them. These conditions resulted in a reduction of heat exchange area in all'cases. This was especially true in the so-called "atmospheric section where cooling water is allowed to descend in a spray on the tube section to strike succeeding tubes in its downward percolation therethrough. When the tubes were bent out of their proper position the cooling water passed between some of them and did not strike them-in proper sequence or passed right through the section without contacting any tubes. When the space between two tubes was closed by rust or resulted in heavy vibration of the tubes whichloosened their connection with the section header. Where supports were used they were in the form of rods which only prevented movement in one plane. The vibration of the tubes against these rods rapidly wore the tubes out.

The present invention corrects these many disadvantages. The use of the applicants supports provides and maintains the proper spacing between the tubes and the section so as to prevent displacement thereof by mechanical stress and temperature changes. If some force should be exerted to move the tubes out of their proper spaced relation, upon removal of the force the tubes naturally return to their original position. Construction of the tube support is such that the entire section including the tubes becomes a rigid unit. Vibration of the tubes is constrained and where there is any vibration present the fact that the support is formed of wood prevents the support from wearing out the tubes. The construction of \the tube support is such that it can be installed in the present known sections without disassembling the same as well as being built into new sections. This latter construction also makes it possible to remove the support to provide easy access to the section for cleaning out scale or other foreign material on the tube surfaces. An important object oi the present invention is to provide a tube support that will maintain equal spacing and predetermined location of tubes in a heat exchanger section. I

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a tube support of such design as to allow its installation in new apparatus and its adaptation to existing apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tube support which will not ear the tubes.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tube support which can be readily removed to facilitate cleaning of the tube surfaces.

Figure 1 is a view in plan of a heat exchanger section embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a viewin side elevation oi the apparatus shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l with one-half of the structure removed, the removed portion being mere duplication of that portion shown, and,

Figure 4 is a similar cross-section view of a. device embodying a modification of the present invention. I

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive 9, heat exchanger section is shown having a bank of tubes l which open at their ends in section headers II, the section headers being joined together by side rails l2. 'At one end the section side rails l2 are bolted rigidly to header I l by bolts l3. At the other end of the section, header II has a sliding connection with side rail I2 through slots l4 and bolts l5. This construction allows for ex-- pansion and contraction of the tubes with temperature changes. Each header II has a nozzle IS, the two nozzles 'extending in opposite directions to each other to allow a flow of fluid from one nozzle into the header, through the tubes to the other header and out the other nozzle. Positioned intermediately the headers and transversely of the tubes are the tube supports. Each of these tube supports comprises a supporting member I! which in turn is made up of a frame l8 and supporting elements l9. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 frame It is made up of two similar parts having legs which overlap within the channel of the side rail. Legs 20 and side rail l2 have coinciding bolt holes 21. Supporting elements l9 extend between the rows of tubes In to the legs 20 on either side of the section. Adjacent legs 20, supporting elements 19 are welded or fastened in any desirable manner to anchor elements 22 which in turn are held with legs 20 to side rail [2 by bolts and nuts 23. It is thus apparent that each row of tubes is flanked on top and bottom in spaced relation by a supporting element or one side of the frame. Between each frame member and its next adjacent supporting element and between the remaining supporting elements are positioned filler strips or spacing elements 24 having holes therein which receive the tubes in snugly fitting relation. In the preferred embodiment the filler strips or spacing elements,

ing elements H! are then slid in between the rows of tubes, this being possible since anchoring elements 22 are narrow enough to fit in between the tube rows before being rotated into the position shown in Figure 3. Bolts and nuts 23 are then placed in position to fasten anchor members 22, frame legs 20 and side rails l2 together. Filler strips 24 have previously been formed of two strips placed side by side with holes drilled in proper positions to receive the tubes. Half a filler strip is inserted under each row of tubes and one over each row of tubes and worked into position in alignment with frame l8 and supporting elements I9. Finally bolt 25 is passed through frame l8 supporting elements l9 and filler strips 24 to fix the filler strips in permanent position.

It is readily apparent that if the tube support shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive is to be installed in a new section in which the tubes have not been already placed in position that the frame I8 supporting elements 19 and filler strips 24 can be pre-assembled and held in position by bolt 25. This preformed assembly can then be positioned between side rails l2 and fastened with bolts and nuts 23. The tubes will then be run through the openings in filler strips 24 and fastened in the headers.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is adaptable only to new sections in which the tubes have not yet been placed. In such a case a frame l8 corresponding to frame [8 shown in Figure 3 is preformed of one strip and welded at 25. The tube spacing element in this embodiment can be one solid sheet having holes drilled in the proper position to receive'the tubes and, as in the previous embodiment, held in position by bolt 25'. This entire assembly would be placed in position between the side rails I 2 and fastened in position by bolts 23. It is obvious that the integral preformed frame l8 of Figure 4 could be substituted for frame ll! of Figure 3 in the case of installations in new sections.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and at.- rangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or

the scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A heat exchanger section comprising a plurality of rows of tubes, section headers in which the tubes terminate at each end, side rails conconnecting the section headers, a frame extending transversely of the rows of tubes and surrounding but spaced from the same, two ends of the frame being in contact with the side rails, supporting elements extending between the rows of tubes and spaced therefrom, anchoring elements on each end of the supporting elements, fastening members coacting with the anchoring elements, the ends of the frame and the side rails to hold the same in position, wooden spacer members having cut out portions receiving the 'tubes for supporting the tubes against lateral movement, the spacer members being held in position by the frame and supporting elements, and fastening means associated with the frame to prevent longitudinal movement of the spacer members.

GERALD W. McCULLOUGH. 

